Rangers believe in Andruw Jones

Three-homer game brings to light nice comeback

Andruw Jones is making believers out of his teammates on the Texas Rangers.

He belted home runs in each of his first three at-bats in the Rangers' 8-1 win over the Angels on Wednesday night, prompting third baseman Michael Young to remark, "Andruw's got a lot left in the tank. He works hard. He's got a good idea of what he wants to do. He's got monster pop."

Jones, who had a three-homer game earlier in his career, hit a two-run shot in the first inning and then added solo home runs in the third and fifth innings.

"It's just good to go out there and perform well and get a win," Jones, who now has 14 homers this season, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "I was patient enough to put good wood on the ball and drive it."

Inge, Victorino claims final two bids to St. Louis: Brandon Inge and Shane Victorino were awarded the final roster spots for the All-Star Game.

Inge won the American League fan vote to become an All-Star for the first time in his career.

"Excited would be the smallest statement I could make about it," Inge told MLB.com on Thursday evening from his previously scheduled charity function at Comerica Park, benefiting Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich., and other local charity. "I'm so happy about it. It's been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. And to be able to be voted in by the fans around here and all over, I think it's been a blessing. And on a good night, too, when we're having a function that's benefiting kids."

Victorino won the last spot on the National League All-Star team, picking up a record 15.6 million votes.

"To be the guy that comes out of the pack is an honor," Victorino told MLB.com. "Again, playing in a city like Philly and coming up with a championship in a city that's hungry shows us again what Phillies fans are about."

Astros players raise funds for slain officer: Ivan Rodriguez, Miguel Tejada, Wandy Rodriguez and Astros first-base coach Jose Cruz attended a fundraiser for the family of a slain police officer on Thursday at a Houston restaurant.

The event was held by the Organization of Spanish Speaking Officers to raise funds for the family of officer Henry Canales, who was killed on June 23 while on duty.

"It just shows you the appreciation they have for law enforcement and the commitment to the individual who made the ultimate sacrifice," David Torres of the Department of Justice told the Houston Chronicle. "We're doing a benefit for Henry Canales. I talked to the ballplayers, and they agreed automatically to attend."

Delgado begins fielding grounders: The official timetable for Carlos Delgado's return to the Mets remains no sooner than Aug. 15, but the slugging first baseman is taking grounders and hitting in "soft toss" drills.

"It was good," Delgado told Newsday after fielding 25 to 30 ground balls on Wednesday. "I didn't have any problems. The balls were hit right at me, so there wasn't a whole lot of movement but no pain."

Upton adds another steal of home: With speedy Carl Crawford causing a distraction on first, B.J. Upton became the latest Major Leaguer to steal home this season.

Noting the first-and-third situation, third base coach Tom Foley concocted the plan with Upton. When a pick-off throw was made to first, Upton dashed home.

"I had nothing to do with that," Maddon told the St. Petersburg Times. "That was all 'Fo' and B.J. putting that together."

"I gave myself a big enough lead to where, if I wanted to go, I could, and I got a good read on him and went," said Upton, who has now stolen home three times in his career, the most in franchise history.

De La Rosa effective with new two-seamer: Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa has added a two-seam fastball and hopes to get more ground balls in double-play situations.

Cook took the time to show De La Rosa how to throw the sinker three starts ago while the club was in Oakland. Since that little session, De La Rosa has thrown 17 consecutive scoreless innings at Coors Field.

Meche hopes to stay with Royals: Gil Meche says he's content to stay with the Royals.

"I don't want to go anywhere," Meche told the Kansas City Star. "I know this is the last year of the no-trade [clause] in my contract, but I would like to be here to win. That's why I signed to come here in the first place."

Getz finds success with new approach: Chris Getz, whose made some adjustments at the plate, had the first four-hit game of his career Thursday.

"I had become kind of one dimensional with my approach, and I opened it up," the White Sox second baseman told the Chicago Tribune. "I talked to [Scott] Podsednik about what he's trying to do -- stay inside the ball -- and I'm trying to work on a little bit of a different approach, similar to his."

New number provides results for Wolf: Randy Wolf changed to uniform No. 43, the number he wore his first seven seasons in the Majors, and broke a seven-start winless streak by beating the Mets, 11-2, on Thursday.

"There's not a baseball player that's not superstitious," Wolf, who previously wore No. 21, told the Los Angeles Times. "The ones that tell you they aren't are liars."

No. 43 had belonged to Will Ohman, who has been sidelined since May 28th and is recovering at the Dodgers' Spring Training complex in Arizona. Both pitchers played at Pepperdine University.

"Being the older Pepperdine guy, I just took it," Wolf said.

Lincecum joins Cain with 10 wins: Tim Lincecum took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and picked up his 10th victory of the season on Thursday. He and Matt Cain became the first Giants duo to each get 10 wins by the All-Star Break since Bill Swift and John Burkett did it in 1993.

"What a tremendous half for [Lincecum]," manager Bruce Bochy told the San Francisco Chronicle. "To start the season, he wasn't at full strength. That was evident. Once he got that back, he went on a serious roll. He has to be considered one of the best -- if not the best -- pitchers in the game right now."

Bailey remembers how he got to All-Star status: When Andrew Bailey heard he made the All-Star team, the A's closer contacted Gil Patterson, the team's roving Minor League pitching coordinator, to share the good news. Patterson taught Bailey the cutter that turned him into a Major League pitcher.